About Portland JACL

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has been fighting against discrimination since its inception in 1928. Since its beginning, the JACL has fought for achieved many significant victories in its fight for civil liberties. Most significant among them was the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which provided for the issuing of Presidential apologies and reparations to all persons of Japanese ancestry who were interned during World War II. The JACL has also fought or brought to public recognition atrocities that have been inflicted on many other ethnic groups including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other persons of Asian ancestry.

Although discrimination is not always as overt today as it was during the 1920s – 1940s, it remains a fact of life for many minority communities and must be challenged in every instance.

Portland JACL is the Portland, Oregon chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League continuing to fight against discrimination and other intrusions upon people’s civil rights.